2021 RETA Breeze September-October

FROM THE DESK OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Hello RETA Family,

In the committee aspect, Vince Grindel and the Education Committee have been working diligently on the new Controls book along with a new PSM book. The Committee is also working on an ammonia awareness video along with a few other exciting projects. I would like to thank the Education Committee Members for their expertise and dedication to ensure our educational material is best it can possibly be. The RETA certification program is still the gold standard in industrial refrigeration program, and I want to thank the Certification Committee Members for their hard work and continued RETA support. They put in countless hours to keep our certification program current, relevant, and up to the regulatory and industry high standards. We can’t wait to spend time with all of you who will be joining us in Schaumburg November 9th-11th. Let’s have some fun and let’s be safe doing it. I look forward in seeing you all.

As I’m writing this, the annual RETA National Conference is just four weeks away. There is an understandable wariness of in-person events and some organizations continue to have travel bans in place to keep their employees as safe as possible. RETA didn’t take the decision to have an in-person Conference lightly. We have procedures in place to protect our attendees, exhibitors, and staff. We are providing sanitizer in the welcome bags and sanitizer stations will be everywhere. Cook County continues to require masks when indoors in a public place regardless of vaccination status, so we are providing multiple reusable and disposable facemasks for all attendees. As we are doing our part, I will need to ask everyone of you to also do your part in protecting yourself and our RETA family. Wash your hands frequently, wear your mask, and sanitize often. Keep your distance when possible. Let’s all do our part. But enough about Covid. It’s been an extremely busy season at RETA HQ. Everyone on staff has been working diligently supporting the members and future members of the Association. The National Board of Directors had a productive meeting in September and approved the 2022 budget. Speaking of the Board, the Annual National Conference is a time of transition for the RETA Board of Directors. I want to give a special recognition to the National Chairman and National Board Members who will be completing their terms at Conference. It has been an honor and a pleasure to spend the last few years with National Chairman Vern Sanderson and Board Members Bill Ellena, Dave Gulcynski, Edward Johnson, and Jordan Reece. The outgoing Board Members have been steering the ship as ambassadors, advisers, and decision makers of RETA for 3 years, while the outgoing National Chairman has dedicated his last 8 years to serving on the RETA Board. Vern, we can’t thank you enough for your time, energy, and love of RETA.

Jim Barron RETA Executive Director

6 RETA.com